6.1
According to Section 10 of the EM&A Manual,
four kinds of ecological monitoring works are required during the construction
phase, namely dolphin monitoring, construction-phase underwater noise
monitoring, dolphin behavior monitoring and land-based dolphin behavior and
movement monitoring.
6.2
The monitoring work shall be undertaken by
suitably qualified specialist(s), (i.e. dolphin specialist and
bio-acoustician), who shall have sufficient (at least 5-10 years) relevant
post-graduate experience and publication in the respective aspects. They should
be approved by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and
Environmental Protection Department (EPD).
6.3
According to EM&A Manual Section 10.3.2, a
dolphin monitoring programme should be set up to
verify the predictions of impacts and to ensure that there are no unforeseen
impacts on the dolphin population during construction phase.
6.4
Following the requirement in the EM&A Manual Section 10.4.1, the dolphin monitoring
should adopt line-transect vessel survey method, and cover the following
line-transect survey areas as in AFCD annual marine mammal monitoring programme.
6.5
For this contract, dolphin monitoring will be
carried out in the West Lantau (WL) along the line
transect as depicted in Figure 1 of Appendix I-1. The
co-ordinates of all transect lines are shown in Table 6.1.
Table
6.1 Co-ordinates
of transect lines in WL survey area
|
Line No. |
Easting |
Northing |
Line No. |
Easting |
Northing |
||
|
1 |
Start Point |
803750 |
818500 |
7 |
Start Point |
800200 |
810450 |
|
1 |
End Point |
803750 |
815500 |
7 |
End Point |
801400 |
810450 |
|
2 |
Start Point |
803750 |
815500 |
8 |
Start Point |
801300 |
809450 |
|
2 |
End Point |
802940 |
815500 |
8 |
End Point |
799750 |
809450 |
|
3 |
Start Point |
802550 |
814500 |
9 |
Start Point |
799400 |
808450 |
|
3 |
End Point |
803700 |
814500 |
9 |
End Point |
801430 |
808450 |
|
4 |
Start Point |
803120 |
813600 |
10 |
Start Point |
801500 |
807450 |
|
4 |
End Point |
801640 |
813600 |
10 |
End Point |
799600 |
807450 |
|
5 |
Start Point |
801100 |
812450 |
11 |
Start Point |
800300 |
806500 |
|
5 |
End Point |
802900 |
812450 |
11 |
End Point |
801750 |
806500 |
|
6 |
Start Point |
802400 |
811500 |
12 |
Start Point |
801760 |
805450 |
|
6 |
End Point |
800660 |
811500 |
12 |
End Point |
800700 |
805450 |
6.6
Dolphin transect survey will be carried out at
least twice a month (i.e. complete all the transect lines of West Lantau survey area twice per month) throughout the
construction period.
6.7
Dolphin monitoring was carried out on 8th
and 22nd March 2013. The dolphin
monitoring schedule for the reporting period is shown in Appendix D.
6.8
From
these surveys, a total of 61.58 km of survey effort was collected, with 94.2%
of the total survey effort being conducted under favourable
weather conditions. Out of the 61.58
km of survey effort, the total survey effort conducted on primary lines (the
vertical lines perpendicular to the coastlines) was 40.27 km, while the effort
on secondary lines (the lines connecting the primary lines) was 21.31 km.
6.9
15 groups of 53 Chinese White Dolphins were
sighted in the offshore waters of central portion of West Lantau.
None of the dolphin groups was associated with an operating fishing vessel
during the March’s surveys.
6.10 Dolphin
encounter rates deduced from the survey effort and on-effort sighting data made
under favourable conditions (Beaufort 3 or below) are
shown in Table 6.2.
Table
6.2 Dolphin
encounter rates (sightings per 100 km of survey effort) in March’s
surveys
|
|
(no. of on-effort
dolphin sightings per 100 km of survey effort) |
Encounter rate
(ANI) (no. of dolphins from all on-effort sightings per 100 km of survey
effort) |
||
|
Primary Lines Only |
Both Primary and
Secondary Lines |
Primary Lines Only |
Both Primary and
Secondary Lines |
|
|
West Lantau |
23.8 |
24.1 |
84.6 |
82.8 |
6.11 A
total of 30 re-sightings of known individual Chinese White Dolphins were made
during the March’s surveys.
6.12 No
adverse impact on Chinese white dolphins was noticeable from general
observations.
6.13 Evaluation
of impacts on dolphins due to construction work will be conducted in the
quarterly EM&A report.
6.14 Detailed
monitoring methodology and results can be found in Appendix I-1.
6.15 According
to EM&A Manual Section 10.3.3 and 10.4.2, construction-phase underwater noise
monitoring has to be carried out to verify the assessment outcome in the EIA
and to collect field data of this construction activity. The actual underwater noise level of bored
piling will be monitored during the pile construction in the waters to the west
of the Airport for HKLR.
6.16 Following
the requirement in the EM&A Manual Section 10.6.2,
construction-phase underwater noise
monitoring will be constructed for 10 days from the start of the bored piling
activities for the first three pier sites during the bored piling process in
the first three sits in the waters to the west of Airport.
6.17 The equipment was
positioned at an appropriate and
safe distance from a barge (about 100m away from the center of the pier) where
the piling work was carried out at the pier site to monitor the underwater
noise during the bored piling activities.
6.18 In
March 2013, bored piling work was carried out at Pier site no. 48 and 52. The
approximate locations of the monitoring stations are depicted in Figure 5. The co-ordinates of the
monitoring station are shown in Table 6.3.
Table
6.3 Co-ordinates
of underwater noise monitoring stations
|
Pier No. |
Station |
Easting |
Northing |
|
48 |
R1 |
806141 |
815885 |
|
52 |
R2 |
806390 |
816056 |
6.19 R1
was monitored on 13th-15th, 18th-23rd
and 25th March 2013 while R2 was monitored on 26th-28th
March 2013. A total of 7 days and 2
days of underwater noise monitorng were conducted at
R1 and R2 respectively during the bored piling activities for P48 and P52. The underwater
noise monitoring schedule for the reporting period is shown in Appendix D. The underwater noise monitoring will be continued
so that 30 days results from the start of the bored piling activities for the
first three pier sites can be collected.
6.20 PAMBuoy, a proprietary product of Sea Mammal
Research Unit (SMRU), was adopted for impact underwater noise monitoring. Copies of calibration certificates are
provided in Appendix C.
6.21 The data recorded by PAMBuoy
were transmitted to a receiving station on a boat via wifi.
The data were viewed on a laptop computer in real time by an operator from Cinotech who
has been well trained and technically supported by SMRU for the operation.
6.22 The RMS sound
pressure level re 1µPa were checked
against the Action Level and
Limit Level (170 dB(A) and 180 dB(A) respectively).
6.23 The underwater noise monitoring results are
summarized in Table 6.4. Graphical
presentations of underwater noise
monitoring are shown in Appendix
I-2.
Table
6.4 Summary Table
of Underwater Noise Monitoring Results during the Reporting Month
|
Date |
Station |
Underwater Noise (dB re
1µPa) |
||
|
Max |
RMS |
Min |
||
|
13-Mar-13 |
R1 |
159.6 |
128.8 |
108.3 |
|
14-Mar-13 |
R1 |
157.5 |
127.2 |
110.4 |
|
15-Mar-13 |
R1 |
163.0 |
128.1 |
108.7 |
|
*18-Mar-13 |
R1 |
152.3 |
124.7 |
109.4 |
|
*19-Mar-13 |
R1 |
157.0 |
121.4 |
109.9 |
|
*20-Mar-13 |
R1 |
145.0 |
126.2 |
112.2 |
|
*21-Mar-13 |
R1 |
162.8 |
122.8 |
108.7 |
|
*22-Mar-13 |
R1 |
144.9 |
121.3 |
108.9 |
|
*23-Mar-13 |
R1 |
161.5 |
123.0 |
110.5 |
|
*25-Mar-13 |
R1 |
151.5 |
125.8 |
109.4 |
|
26-Mar-13 |
R2 |
165.9 |
126.4 |
111.2 |
|
*27-Mar-13 |
R2 |
152.1 |
128.5 |
110.7 |
|
*28-Mar-13 |
R2 |
156.5 |
132.5 |
112.2 |
Remarks: * Underwater noise
monitoring was conducted during the bored piling activities
6.24 As shown in the table above, no Action/Limit
Level exceedance was recorded.
6.25
Should
non-compliance of the criteria occur, action in accordance with the Action Plan
in Appendix K shall be carried out.
6.26 According
to EM&A Manual Section 10.3.4, acoustic behavior
and movement of Chinese White Dolphin near the bored piling sites should be
monitored during bridge construction.
6.27 The
dedicated acoustic surveys with calibrated hydrophone deployment were conducted
in the western side of Lantau Island during the
construction phase. The research vessel followed a predefined route for
systematic search effort in West Lantau waters to
cover the HKLR alignment in Northwest and West Lantau
waters (in particular the area near the first three bored piling sites), where
dolphins will be potentially disturbed by the bored piling works.
6.28 The
EARs were deployed at two locations: 1) near the bridge alignment (N22°17.222,
E113°53.016), about 500 m from the first three bored piling sites (Site B2),
and 2) at a less disturbed site away from the bridge alignment as control site,
off Fan Lau (N22°11.827, 113°50.648; Site B1). EAR B2 was in water depth 4 m, and EAR B1 in 7 m.
6.29 In
March 2013, a total of 23 days of acoustic monitoring surveys were conducted
between March 6th and 30th. A total of 8 days and 2 days of acoustic monitoring surveys were
conducted during the bored piling activities for P48 and P52 respectively. The
schedule is shown in Appendix D. The acoustic monitoring surveys will be continued
so that 30 days results during the bored piling activities will be collected.
with bored piling
6.30 In
March 2013, a total of 10 days of acoustic monitoring surveys were conducted on
the 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd,
23rd, 25th, 27th, 28th and 29th,
when bored piling activities were concurrently conducted During those dates, 623.6 km of survey
effort were conducted to search for dolphins in the western and northwestern
waters of Lantau. A total of 18 groups, numbering 45
dolphins, were sighted during these surveys. In addition, 11 sound samples with 58.3
hours of recordings were taken from some of these dolphin groups. Moreover, the EARs were deployed since
February 25th, 2013 at Fan Lau (site B1) and near the bridge
alignment (Site B2), which will be recovered at the end of the construction
phase monitoring.
without bored piling
6.31 In
March 2013, a total of 13 days of acoustic monitoring surveys were conducted on
the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 11th,
12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th,
17th, 24th and 30th, when no bored piling
activities were conducted. During
those dates, 820.0 km of survey effort were conducted to search for dolphins in
the western and northwestern waters of Lantau. A total of 23 groups, numbering 72
dolphins, were sighted during these surveys. In addition, 21 sound samples with 102.2
hours of recordings were taken from some of these dolphin groups. Moreover, the EARs were deployed since
February 25th, 2013 at Fan Lau (site B1) and near the bridge
alignment (Site B2), which will be recovered at the end of the construction
phase monitoring.
6.32 Detailed
monitoring methodology and results can be found in Appendix I-3.
6.33 According
to EM&A Manual Section 10.3.5, land-based theodolite
tracking has to be carry out to study dolphin behaviour
near bored piling work site, and examine their north-south movement across the
bridge alignment during after bridge construction.
6.34 Following
the requirement in the EM&A Manual Section 10.4.3
and 10.6.3, the monitoring should be conducted at the three pier sites for 30
days from the start of bored piling activities in the waters to the west of
Airport.
6.35 A
theodolite tracking station was set up in Sham Wat located along the northwest coast of Lantau Island (22o16.10’ N. and 113o52.32’
E) as depicted in Figure 6.
6.36 Thirty
days of monitoring would be carried out during the construction phase.
6.37 In
March 2013, a total of 22 days
of land-based theodolite tracking were conducted
between March 6th and 30th. A total of 7 days and 2 days of land-based theodolite
tracking were conducted during the
bored piling activities at P48 and P52 respectively. The schedule is shown in Appendix D. The land-based theodolite tracking
will be continued so that 30 days results during the bored piling activities
will be collected.
with bored piling
6.38 In
March 2013, a total of 9 sessions with 49.87 hours of theodolite
tracking were conducted from Shum Wat shore-based
station on the 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st,
22nd, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 28th,
when bored piling activities were concurrently conducted. More than 80% of effort was conducted in
favourable weather conditions during those days. Dolphins were successfully tracked from
shore on six of the nine days of efforts, and a total of eight dolphin groups
were tracked. A total of 124 fixes
of their positions were collected, and another 2,862 fixes were also made from
locations of various vessels (e.g. fishing boats, high-speed ferries), to
examine the level of vessel traffic in the study area. At the end of the construction phase monitoring
period, the data will be used for the analyses on movement pattern, speed,
reorientation rate, linearity, inter-breath interval, and north-south movement
of Chinese White Dolphins.
without bored piling
6.39 In
March 2013, a total of 13 sessions with 76.75 hours of theodolite
tracking were conducted from Shum Wat shore-based
station on the 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th,
11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th,
16th, 17th, 24th and 30th, when no
bored piling activities were conducted.
More than 80% of effort was conducted in favourable
weather conditions during those days.
Dolphins were successfully tracked from shore on 6 of 13 days of
efforts, and a total of 11 dolphin groups were tracked. A total of 240 fixes of their positions
were collected, and another 3,716 fixes were also made from locations of
various vessels (e.g. fishing boats, high-speed ferries), to examine the level
of vessel traffic in the study area.
6.40 Detailed
monitoring methodology and results can be found in Appendix I-4.